Where does “northbridge” come from?

northbridge (English) comes from English North, from French Nord, from Middle French nord, from Old French nort, from Old English norþ, from Proto-Germanic nurþrą, from Proto-Germanic nurþraz, from Proto-Indo-European *nér — below the surface, below.

northbridge (English): A microchip connected directly to the CPU and...

Definitions

  1. A microchip connected directly to the CPU and...

Ancestry of “northbridge”, step by step

northbridge traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English North

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNorthAny of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie
2FrenchNordnorth
3Middle Frenchnordnorth
4Old Frenchnortnorth
5Old Englishnorþnorth
6Proto-Germanicnurþrąnorth, northern; north, northward
7Proto-Germanicnurþraznorth, northern
8Proto-Indo-European*nérbelow the surface, below

via English Bridge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBridgeOS grid ref TR1854. Recorded as Brige in 1086 (DB), from
2Middle EnglishbriggeA bridge
3Old Norsebryggjapier, gangway
4Proto-Germanicbrewwanąto brew
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *nér